1. HEALTH FORUM GASTEIN Crisis management and health policy for SARS and influenza control EUROPEAN UNION COOPERATION ON SARS CONTROL George Gouvras Health Threats Unit Public Health and Risk Assessment Directorate European Commission

2. SARS Chronology of Actions done by the Commission (1) 12 February ‘03: selected information monitoring (target: ‘atypical pneumonia’ in Guangdong, China) 11 March ‘03 - EU EWRS (France): ‘a severe viral flu-like infection is being transmitted efficiently from person to person mainly among medical previously healthy staff’ (Hanoi, Viet Nam - Hong Kong SAR - Guangdong, China) 14 March ‘03 - EU EWRS (SANCO): enhanced global surveillance in response to SARS (WHO guidelines) 16-17 March ‘03 - First SARS probable case confirmed in Europe (Germany) 18 March ‘03 - MS agreement on report SARS suspect/probable cases to the EC (Network) 7 April ‘03 - SARS web page on SARS (EUROPA web site)

3. SARS Chronology of Actions done by the Commission (2) 25 April ‘03: Set up of EU Expert Group on SARS 6 May ‘03: Extraordinary meeting on SARS of EPSCO Council 2 June ‘03 - EPSCO Council - Commission report on ‘Measures undertaken by the Member States, EFTA and Accession Countries to control the outbreak of SARS’ (Road map) 4 June ‘03 - Last SARS probable case notified in EU (Germany)

4. SARS Chronology of Actions done by the Commission (3) 5 July ‘03: WHO removed the last Country (Taiwan) from its list of ‘Local affected areas’ 5 July ‘03: at EU level – Agreement on concerted and phased discontinuation of measures on SARS at airports – Continuation of active surveillance On SARS – Exchange of information from daily to weekly basis – Implementation of the ‘road map’

5. SARS number of reported cases in Europe

6. SARS Chronology of Actions done by the Commission (4) Currently: – Information monitoring – Active surveillance – Commission report on ‘SARS preparedness in Member States, EEA/EFTA and Candidate Countries’ – Update of the Commission report on ‘Measures undertaken by the Member States, EFTA and Accession Countries to control the outbreak of SARS’ – Update of technical guidance documents – New technical guidance documents – Strengthening of expertise (panel of experts in infection control strategies, clinical management, laboratory diagnosis, public health) – Networking (Clinics / Hospitals - Reference laboratories) – Review of Member States’ quarantine legal frameworks and implementation of International Health Regulations

7. SARS call for proposals in support of public health policy dealine 30.9.03,CA&STREP TASKS: 1. Scientific networking in support of surveillance and control of communicable diseases in particular SARS 2. Strengthening of surveillance and control: research on molecular epidemiology of SARScoV, (origins, virulence, pathogeneicity) -epidemiological models & transmission dynamics including lifestyle and mobility aspects -clinical manifestations, genetic factors,host immunity, infectiousness, progression,transmission (chains of transmission,reservoirs), infection control measures, efficacy in different circumstances 3. Support to R&D in diagnostic tests, treatment interventions and vaccine development 4. Risk evaluation,intervention & communication strategies, economic and social aspects

8. SARS web pages